Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will not face charges over the IRA murder of Jean McConville, it was announced today.

The 66-year-old politician was among seven people being investigated by police in Ireland over the killing of the mother-of-ten from Belfast in 1972.

He was arrested and questioned for four days about the murder last year but denied any involvement.

Today the Public Prosecutions Service announced that Adams, the elected representative for Co Louth in the Irish Dail, would not be charged over her death.

Killed: Jean McConville

In a statement, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Pamela Atchison said: "We have given careful consideration to the evidence currently available in respect of each of the three men and four women reported and have concluded that it is insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction against any of them for a criminal offence."